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So this weekend I was feeling guilty about this car, as it has been neglected for far to long. I got the car when I was 15 for parts for my brat, but after realizing that it had come from California, and had only been in the north east for a few years, I found the car to be too good to part out. My dad and I drove it around that first summer (working A/C and all!) and then it just kind of sat, and I haven't done anything with it. Being in the north east it has now developed rust, and some other issues. It needs paint (it's pealing from its formal west coast life) This weekend I have been replacing rocker panels and starting to cut out rust that has developed in the floor from sitting. I also have removed all the sound detaining, and found that the rear shock towers are 100% solid

My goals for the project are to lower it a bit, make some of my tube bumpers for it. I don't really like the stock FWD bumpers. New paint and some stripes. do up the interior a little. Black out all the chrome. I already purchased some wing mirrors they are on the way! Fix the rust, and leave it fwd with the stock engine. I like the Mpg's it gets and it runs amazingly well with only 178k on her, she's got tons left as is.

Keep up the good work and keep updating. What kind of MPG's does it get? Regular (87 octane) is back over $4 now in California and it seems no one is raising any hell about it. Looking good though-your ambitious. Aaron

Thanks, as funny as it sounds this is the most solid ea81 I have started with. All my others were far worse than this and they came out awesome, so this one should be a really good platform. And I can't wait for the wing mirrors either. I hope they come in before this weekend so I can get them mounted up!!!!! For the wheels I actually have the ones pictured above, but they are staying on my other ea81 wagon. I have a set of the H style wheels, as well as both of these ( I have the white 8 spokes on it now) I think I may switch to the rally wheels (the ones with the egg shaped holes) as I just refinished those last summer.

I buy a big piece of sheet metal, I think it's like 4x4 feet. And then I cut it using tin snips, grinders, whatever I have. I forget the gauge I get, but it's about the same as the factory Subaru metal. I get it from my local auto parts store (Bond auto). I don't think they have any stores down your way, but you should be able to get some pretty easily.

The wing mirrors came in today! I know some people aren't a big fan, but I really like them. I need to figure out how to plug the holes in my doors now, but a little welding and some bondo should do the trick! Anyway here are the pics

Thanks. This upcoming weekend I should be making some big progress, I'm trailering it to work to finish welding on the underside and get some brakes back in it. I'm hoping to work on the custom bumpers as well.

As for the mirrors, I like them a lot too, they are super easy to install (well I had my fenders off already, so that could be a challenge because the bolts like to snap and you have to take the bumper off along with the grill to get the fenders off) the hard part is filling in the doors, that took a good hour or so, but it's well worth it. I got to take it for a quick drive up and down the road ( I live in the middle of nowhere so no one cares if there's a half apart subaru rolling around ) and I already like these so much better then the door mounted ones, it makes me wonder why we never had them? It seems like I can see out of them much better.

My dad took this down to the shop last week so I got to spend a long time welding on this today. I also put new rear brakes in it (the wheel cylinders had puked) Now it has a peddle again. I got the passengers side rocker done today, I'm hoping to get the other side done tomorrow and start working on the bumpers maybe

PICS!!!

Putting the new wheel cylinders in involved new lines so I made some copper/nickel lines for it so they will never have to be replaced again!

For today I finished up the welding on the drivers side ( I still have a small spot to weld but I ran out of time) I also painted it all with spray balm today to prevent rust until the por-15 comes in. I also welded all my patches from the bottom so they are double welded and now super strong. This week I'll be ordering both fuel filters, headlights and start working on the bumpers and such.

Today I por15'd even more of the floor sealing it well (i hope) I also added turn signals to my front bumper in the stock location. It tuned out to be kind of a pain because one of the light housings had rusted so I had to break the bulb out of it, and remove the bottom half with pliers. I then took a grinder with a small tip and cleaned out the socket. I was amazed that it worked when I was finished...